I spend $800 a week on food and drink - here's everything I buy

Brunch

I had a bunch of freelance work on my plate for the day, but a dear friend had just returned from a work trip to Thailand and had eschewed yoga in lieu of day drinking. We met at Super Six for brunch, where I indulged in the “Big Blue” Benny ($14) and a Super Michelada ($6).

Total (with $5.00 tip): $26.92

Dinner

Still full from brunch, I decided to go light for dinner and hit the salad bar, at yep, you guessed it, PCC. (I jokingly refer to it as my pantry, since it’s commonly a three times a day habit.)

Total: $8.99

Brunch

It’s a known fact that I make the best breakfast sandwich on the planet. It costs waaay more than an Egg McMuffin, but is seriously so darn delicious. My boyfriend regularly comes over to indulge in breakfast sandwich brunch, complete with mimosas.

English muffins ($3.19), eggs ($3.89), Tillamook cheddar cheese ($5.99), arugula ($3.99), Mama Lil’s peppers ($7.99), Karam’s Original garlic sauce ($12.99), pound of black forest bacon ($7.99), two bottles of Prosecco (2 at $10 = $20), organic grapefruit juice ($7.99)

Total: $82.19

Lunch

I unapologetically love cheese. And although I love the Pacific Northwest, not a day goes by when I don’t long for the heirloom tomatoes I had living on the Central Coast of California. Whenever I can get my hands on a good-enough tomato, I turn into a caprese salad. So simple, so good.

Heirloom tomatoes ($6.82), whole milk mozzarella ($5.99) and basil ($4.99)

(I had olive oil and balsamic vinegar on hand)

Total: $19.51

Dinner

Chef Joel DeBilzan puts together themed Sunday feasts at Seafood Feast at TavolÀta. The Seafood Feast was off-the-hook featuring all of the Pacific Northwest’s finest from spot prawns to King salmon, Total knockout of an 11-course tasting menu!

$120.00 + Manhattan ($11), glass of La Spinetta Vermentino ($15) + 20% service charge

Total: $160.80

Breakfast

Started the day right with another Green Dream smoothie.

Total: $6.57

Delivery

Although this Philadelphia native lives in Seattle, the U.S. epicenter for coffee, I cannot get enough of La Colombe’s XXX Draft Lattes and keep them in constant supply.

Total: $48.00

Delivery

Thank goodness for Goldbely to keep me in supply of the random specialty foodstuffs I love from around the country. My freezer isn’t complete without a few Lou Malnati Chicago deep-dish pizza pies.

Total: $61.99

Dinner

I had a rough day and was craving comfort food, so my boyfriend offered to make his over the-top Tater Tot Casserole. Think that 80s recipe you know and love, minus the canned cream soup. It totally hit the spot.

Organic tater tots ($3.39), mushrooms ($3.99), half and half ($2.89), onions ($2.23), Tillamook cheddar cheese ($5.99), organic ground beef ($9.45), two bottles of wine ($25)

Total: $58.02

Breakfast

Another day, another Green Dream smoothie. I’m predictable like that. Plus, for being green and healthy and all that, it tastes so good.

Total: $6.57

Lunch

Lunch was a no-brainer. I reheated some of last night’s tater tot casserole, which was surprisingly even more delicious the day after. Carbs and cheese – how can you really go wrong?

Total: Free

Dinner

Today would’ve been my mother’s 66th birthday. My calendar is riddled with reminders of loss and I celebrate them all. We celebrated my mama in style with a miso-marinated black cod (À la Nobu), mashed potatoes, a simple green salad and some killer wine and Champagne.

Black cod ($25.69), white miso ($4.60), organic russet potatoes ($4.02), organic shallots ($1.40), quart of organic mile ($3.29), salad (had ingredients on hand), Champagne ($34.99), Secateurs Chenin Blanc ($15.99)

Total: $98.62

Breakfast

Alright, I’m a creature of habit. What can I say? Another day, another Green Dream. It’s delicious!

Total: $6.57

Lunch

I like raw fish and I cannot lie. Okay, I live a few blocks from Wabi Sabi, a sushi spot with killer lunch specials and happy hour deals. I had two pieces each of ikura (with quail eggs), salmon, mackerel and unagi.

Total (with $6.00 tip): $32.60

Dinner

I wanted to impress my date tonight, so I made my fancy lamb tagliatelle pasta dish and Parmigiano-Reggiano pear salad. As always, it was an absolute hit. I had a lot of the ingredients for this dish, but picked up: Uli’s lamb sausage (four at $2.75 each), organic asparagus ($5.39), tagliatelle ($4.99), Laura Chenel goat cheese ($3.49), Holy Mountain The Witchfinder ($15.99) two ice cream sandwiches (2 at $2.99 each), arugula ($3.99), Parmigiano-Reggiano ($8.79), organic bosc pears ($3.03), pine nuts ($10.27) and lamb stock ($6.99).

Total: $87.58

Breakfast

As much as I mail it most days when it comes to the “most important meal of the day,”, I really do like breakfast dishes. This rainbow chard/poached egg/cheesy grits dish is an easy, yet filling go-to.

I had all of the ingredients on hand except for Swiss chard ($3.99)

Total: $4.37

Lunch

On days when I need a change of scenery, I hole up at a nearby bar to multitask. Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria offers a screaming lunch deal, Pancetta Pomodoro Pizzetta ($11) and two Moretti Pilsners (2 @ $6.00), plus a super-fast WiFi connection to get work done.

Total (including $5.00 tip): $30.21

Dinner

Dinner consisted of leftover lamb tagliatelle reconstituted by a splash of lamb stock and some goat cheese. Every bit as tasty as the first time!

Total: Free

One-week spending: $836.35